Celebrating the life with prestigious events

In The Palm Beaches with Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Delray Beach and Jupiter there is always a reason to celebrate, in any of the areas that make up your lifestyle.

From fairs and festivals to things to do, the best events in South Florida happen here and no one wants to miss.

Winter is full of outdoor events. One of the favorite local events kicking off the New Year is the South Florida Fair. This Fair is one of the largest festivals in Florida, drawing crowds with its 108-foot-tall Ferris wheel, freshly fried fritters, daily parades, carnival games, and live music.

The sky lights up in the Christmas season. Look up to the sky—not for Santa Claus, but for fireworks— because it means the Palm Beach “Merry and Bright”, Christmas Boat Parade is on its way! See ships decked out in dancing lights, holiday decorations, and more than a few surprises as they make their way down the Intracoastal Waterway from the North Palm Beach Marina to Jupiter.

Spring festivals in The Palm Beaches celebrate interesting combinations and flavors. The Wellington Bacon and Bourbon Festival in March brings two great flavors together in one delicious festival. After all, everything is better with bacon, especially bourbon.

If you prefer concerts in the sun and theater under the stars, The Palm Beaches may be the perfect place for music and performing arts. SunFest returns to the West Palm Beach shoreline, bringing with it dozens of notable musicians and thousands of fans. On three stages set against the shimmering backdrop of Lake Worth Lagoon, see acts ranging from Ice Cube to Billy Idol, peruse the art and stay fed with the help of local food vendors.

Culture takes center stage at the BOCA Festival of the Arts, held each March at Mizner Park in downtown Boca Raton. Attend readings by Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, see performances by actors like Bill Murray, and hear scores from your favorite movies performed by a live orchestra, perhaps with a guest appearance by classic legends like Itzhak Perlman or Yo-Yo Ma.

TurtleFest, a celebration of our beloved native sea turtles. Held at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach each March, TurtleFest allows visitors to get up close and personal with these endangered reptiles.

Activities get even better in March, too, with the Palm Beach International Boat Show, one of the top five boating events in the country. Feast your eyes and ears on all things sailing, from mega yachts and racing boats to sailing apparel, boating accessories and gifts for fellow sailors.

At Boca Bacchanal in April, renowned South Florida chefs pair wonderful wines with tropical culinary delights. Later in April, the Sweet Corn Festival celebrates the local crop, which grows in the famous black soil of the Glades Region.

Fans of The Bard, head to Carlin Park in Jupiter for Shakespeare by the Sea, a summer tradition for nearly 30 years. Bring a blanket, beach chair and picnic, or come hungry for delicious food trucks, and sit back for performances of classics like Antony & Cleopatra and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

There are also many other musical and stage events. See what big-name Broadway shows or concerts are scheduled at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, enjoy a month of arts, culture and ideas in May during MOSAIC, and explore the calendar of free outdoor concerts throughout the summer.

July 4th in Delray Beach means putting on some sunscreen and heading to the beach for a day of live music, barbecue, and of course, fireworks. And in August, celebrate the diverse food scene during the Month of Restaurants from August 1 to 31.

After sampling the best tropical flavors from Jupiter to Boca Raton, get ready to celebrate German food, beer and music at Lake Worth’s Oktoberfest.

MULTICULTURAL EVENTS.

Travel the world without leaving Palm Beach. The Palm Beaches’ diverse heritage spans several continents and a multitude of cultures, many of which are celebrated at annual multicultural events. From the tropical influence of neighboring Caribbean nations to the local agricultural heritage of The Glades, you’ll discover what gives The Palm Beaches its own local flavor.

Pay homage to the local culture of The Glades and Lake Okeechobee at the Black Gold Jubilee. This sugarcane-growing region on the fringes of the Everglades is famous for its fertile, inky-black soil. Celebrating the end of the annual harvest season each September, the jubilee features a 5K run/walk, green market, local food vendors, great country music, fireworks, and a parade.

Look out for special events at institutions like the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, and the Norton Museum of Art.

ART CULTURE.

They don’t call The Palm Beaches Florida’s Cultural Capital® for nothing, and they have the events to prove it. From festivals featuring elaborate 3D chalk paintings to 21st century modern masterpieces, every medium imaginable is celebrated in The Palm Beaches’ annual lineup of events celebrating the arts.

It all kicks off with The Palm Beach Show, known for its high-end display that spans all genres and mixes many periods and movements. This kicks off a season packed with celebrations of arts and culture, including FotoFusion, a celebration of photography by some of the world’s most popular professional photographers.

Held each February, ArtiGras will find art in all mediums at a market of 300 local and national visual artists, plus live entertainment, artist demos and a creative ArtiKids Zone.

The Delray Affair is the oldest and largest arts and crafts festival in South Florida.

Browse an eclectic mix of fine art, fine crafts, and original trinkets. After the sun goes down, head over to the Delray Affair After Dark to see pop-up galleries and art exhibits along Atlantic Avenue.

You can really paint the city at the Lake Worth Street Paint Festival, where dozens of artists transform asphalt into incredible temporary masterpieces (that last only until the next drop of rain).

Before you go, be sure to check out the latest exhibits and openings at world-class art meccas like the Norton Museum of Art and the Boca Raton Museum of Art.

Lgbtq Events

Year-round, The Palm Beaches is a welcoming destination for all who visit. They are also home to some of the largest LGBT festivals in South Florida, where their cities are awash in all the colors of the rainbow in vibrant celebrations of pride, selfexpression, and diversity.

Here are some celebrations you’ll want to put on your calendar.

Ready for some fun? Browse the full list of the best events in South Florida.

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